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Financial Aid

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At Kean we'll help you navigate the aid process.

Financial Aid

About

The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to educating students regarding various aid programs that make attending college affordable for all. We have flexible hours of service and our financial aid counselors are on call every day to help with the financial aid process. Students can finance their college education through need-based grants, scholarships and low-interest Federal Direct Student Loans. The Financial Aid Office will help students navigate the aid process.

*Based on full-time status. Room for residence is based on single occupancy. Board is based on Freshman meal plan.

Types of Aid

Grants awarded to students that show they have financial need. Grants typically do not require repayment

Loans a source of aid that must be repaid, usually with interest, after you graduate or stop going to school

Scholarships awarded to students based on special talents, skills or high academic achievement

Federal Work Study a program where students may work and earn money to help pay for school

Financial Aid Calendar

October 1, 2014

STATE

Deadline for new students applying for state aid for Fall 2014 and Spring 2015

November 15, 2014

STATE

Deadline for reporting a change in college choice for Fall 2014 and Spring 2015

November 30, 2014

November 30, 2013
Pell/Loan

Last day to submit a FAFSA or loan application for the Fall 2014 semester for students not returning for Spring 2015

January 16, 2015

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals

Last date to submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form to be considered for Spring 2015 (Students must check their Kean email account and KeanWISE for updates regarding their SAP status)

March 1, 2015

STATE

Deadline for new students applying for State Aid for Spring 2015

April 17, 2015

All Financial Aid Programs

Priority awards to students who complete the 2015-2016 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before this date. Priority consideration for SEOG and Perkins Loan Funds

April 24, 2015

Pell & Loan

Last day to submit a completed 2014-2015 FAFSA for those students attending the Spring Semester only

May 28, 2015

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals

Last date to submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form to be considered for the 2015 Summer Session I (Students must check their Kean email account and KeanWISE for updates regarding their SAP status)

June 1, 2015

FAFSA/TAG

Deadline for continuing students applying for State Aid for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016

Last day to submit a completed 2014-2015 FAFSA (Institutional restrictions may apply)

July 2, 2015

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals

Last date to submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form to be considered for Fall 2015 (Students must check their Kean email account and KeanWISE for updates regarding their SAP status)

July 15, 2015

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals

Last date to submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form to be considered for the 2015 Summer Session II (Students must check their Kean email account and KeanWISE for updates regarding their SAP status)

October 1, 2015

State TAG/EOF/DSS/NJ Stars II

Deadline for new students applying for state aid for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016

November 15, 2015

State TAG/EOF/DSS/NJ Stars II

Deadline for reporting a change in college choice for Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 for state aid

November 30, 2015

Pell/Loan

Last day to submit a FAFSA or loan application for the Fall 2015 semester for students not returning for Spring 2016.

How Long Will It Take Before Kean University's Office Of Finacial Aid Recieves A Report Of My Submitted FAFSA?
If you have completed the FAFSA online (with Kean University listed as a recipient), Kean University will generally receive notification within 2 weeks. If you have mailed in a paper FAFSA it could take up to 6-8 weeks.

After I Submit My FAFSA, What Types Of Feedback Will I Recieve?

Generally, you’ll receive;

Student Aid Report (SAR) from the federal government. The SAR will provide a summary of your FAFSA and list any rejects or problems with the application. The SAR will inform the student if additional information must be provided to the school. It will also notify you of your estimated eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant and Direct Stafford Loans.

Student Eligibility Notice (SEN) from the State of New Jersey (only for undergraduate students who have been legal residents of the State of New Jersey for at least one full year). The SEN will notify you of your estimated eligibility for State TAG (Tuition Aid Grant) as well as notify you if any additional information must be provided to the State.

The Office of Financial Aid may require you to submit specific documents in order to complete your aid package. You will also be notified of any document requests through your Kean email and KeanWise accounts.

Why Can't My Parent Call and Get Answers About My Financial Aid?FERPA regulations (Family Educational and Rights Privacy Act) regulations limit the information that can be released to someone other than the student. A student can use their KeanWise account to grant a third party access to the student’s educational records. The student can do this by following the instructions under the section marked “Student Educational Records Release” on KeanWise.

I Need More Money To Pay For School. Where Can I Obtain Scholarship Information? The Office of Scholarship Services can assist students with information pertaining to Kean University scholarships. For additional loans, parents of dependent students can apply for a Parent PLUS Loan and all students can apply for Private Loans.

Should I Fill Out A FAFSA If I Am Not Sure That I Will Need Financial Aid?
Circumstances can change and it is helpful to submit a FAFSA. You may find that you are eligible for grants or loans with little to no interest. By filing the FAFSA your information will be processed and available for you in case you decide you may want or need aid.

I Pay My Own Blls And I Think I Am Independent. Do I Need To Provide My Parents' Information On My FAFSA?
Step 3 of your FAFSA will determine if you can be considered as an independent student. For financial aid purposes, students are usually considered dependents of their parents and the parent information should be supplied. If there are unusual circumstances, you may apply for a Dependency Override.

I Have Unusal Circumstances That May Affect My Ability To Pay For School (Unemployment, Disablility, etc.) What can I do?
You may complete a Special Conditions Application. This application requires copies of certain documents to substantiate your application and to assist the counselor in determining your eligibility for additional aid. Once this application and supporting documents are submitted, the Office of Financial Aid will reevaluate your financial situation and determine whether any adjustments can be made to your income information. This may result in a change in your financial aid eligibility.

Why Are You Asking Me For Copies Of My IRS Tax Return Transcipts and W2'S?
If a student is selected for a process called "verification", the school is required by the federal government to collect certain documents from the student and (for dependent students) their parents. Students who fail to submit the requested information may be ineligible to receive financial aid for that particular academic year.

What Is An IRS TAX Return Transcript And How Can I Get It?
The Department of Education has instructed schools to obtain IRS Tax Return Transcripts for students who are selected for verification. Therefore, the Office of Financial Aid can no longer accept tax return forms 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. Students can visit the IRS website and request an IRS tax return transcript via a downloadable PDF file or through the mail. The IRS will mail the transcript to your home (usually within 10-14 days). There is no charge for an IRS tax return transcript.

What Is The IRS Data Retrival Tool?
When completing the FAFSA, students who qualify will be asked if they would like to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool. The FAFSA will redirect you to the IRS website, where you can transfer your tax information directly on to the FAFSA to ensure you do not make any mistakes. If you are eligible to use the tool, it is highly recommended that you use this method to report your income data. Once you upload the information, do not change any of the income figures.

I Submitted The Required Document; When Should I Expect My Financial Aid To Be Posted?
The verification process typically takes about 2-3 weeks (processing may take longer during peak time). Once it is completed your aid package will be finalized (unless changes to your enrollment status or Satisfactory Academic Progress status occur). If any corrections were made to your FAFSA during verification, you will receive a revised award letter and an updated SAR.

How Do I Apply For A State Tag?
After completing your FAFSA, the confirmation page will prompt you to complete your state application. If you did not do this, you can go to www.hesaa.org and click on the “Report Additional Information for State Aid” link to apply for TAG.

What Is SAP? What Are The Requirements?
All students receiving financial aid are required to meet minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. For a full explanation of this policy, please see click to see the Satisfactory Academic Policy section of our website.

What Is Federal Work Study (FWS)?Federal Work Study is financial aid assistance available to students with “financial need” (as determined by the FAFSA) that is received as a bi-weekly paycheck based on hours worked at an assigned on or off campus department. FWS does not go directly toward the cost of tuition, fees, or housing. The number of job assignments is limited.

How Can I Apply For FWS?
The FWS application can be found here. A step-by-step outline of the application process can be found here. AFTER the application is submitted to the Office of Financial Aid, you must schedule an appointment to see the FWS coordinator.

What Jobs Are Available For FWS Students?
Once the student meets with the FWS coordinator, he/she will be notified of available positions on and off campus. We try our best to place students in departments that fit their skills and interests.

I Need To Speak To An Advisor, How Do I Do That?
If you would like to speak to a specific financial aid counselor, you can schedule an appointment with them here. You can also walk-in any time during our office hours and someone will be available to assist you. Our normal office hours are 8am-6pm Mon-Thurs, and 8am-5pm on Fridays. These hours may change during the summer sessions, winter break, spring break, etc. Students can also email us at finaid@kean.edu or call us at (908)737-3190.

Do I Need To Complete A FAFSA Every Year For Financial Aid?
Yes, each academic year is separate, and the FAFSA is needed in order to receive aid.

What Is The Master Promissory Note (MPN)? What Is The Entrance Counseling?
For Direct Stafford Loans, both the MPN and entrance counseling are online forms that first time borrowers must complete before receiving any loan disbursement. You can complete both at www.studentloans.gov.
For Perkins Loans, students will receive the MPN and entrance counseling forms in their email. They are to be filled out entirely and sent back to the Kean University Office of Financial Aid.

I Don't Want The Loans Offered To Me. What Do I Do?
You can decline your loans on your KeanWise account under the section marked “Accept/Reject Loans.” You can also decline and/or reduce your loans in person by submitting a signed Loan Adjustment Form to the Office of Financial Aid.

How Can I Apply For The Plus Loan?
A parent of an undergraduate dependent student can apply for a Parent PLUS Loan at www.studentloans.gov. Parents are required to complete a Master Promissory Note in order to complete the PLUS Loan application process. Graduate students can apply for a Graduate PLUS at the same website. We begin accepting Plus Loan applications for upcoming years on July 1st.

Are Student Loans, Parent Loans, and Private Loans, Considered Financial Aid?
Yes. Although loans are funds that must be re-paid, they are considered a type of financial aid.

Is My KeanWise Password and FAFSA Pin Number The Same?
No. The Federal PIN (Personal Identification Number) is assigned by the Department of Education and your KeanWise password is administered by Kean University.